Let’s be honest: the fashion industry hasn’t done a great job of making everyone feel heard and seen. You see one body type, one beauty standard, and no room for a (productive) conversation about fit challenges or struggles.
When I created Next Level Wardrobe, in 2018, my goal was to change that. I knew I wanted a diverse community of clients with all ages, sizes, and backgrounds represented.
Not only that, but I wanted to ensure that our 1-on-1 services and blog could empower this community through REAL advice and by giving them the space to see other REAL people like themselves.
That’s why I’m so proud to share these client transformation photos and success stories. With everyday professionals and their polished style, you can see how our proven framework, The NLW Style System can help you:
- Regain confidence in your closet
- Create outfits for every occasion that fit perfectly
- Invest in the right pieces
We’ve helped someone like you before and given them the style makeover they needed. Scroll through to find your fashion roadblock and how we solved it for our client.
Table of Contents
Finding Your Style After Losing or Gaining Weight
Losing weight or gaining weight both have a major impact on your confidence, perspective, and of course, your wardrobe.
Even for multi-hyphenate writers, speakers, and podcasters like NLW client, Laurie Ruettimann.
Laurie is a very public person. Once known only as an “HR Lady”, she now spends much of her time at public speaking engagements, helping others to fix their workplaces (and themselves along the way)
She knew how to motivate others to upgrade their lives and careers whether in a book or a keynote.
So why wasn’t her wardrobe matching this energy?
As she puts it, “My style before Next Level Wardrobe was a mishmash.”
Laurie didn’t know how to dress her new body shape and size. After COVID and a health diagnosis, Laurie was struggling to find clothes that looked and felt good.
She needed pieces she could wear while commanding a room or Zoom meeting.
But she didn’t want anything high maintenance. She specifically needed pieces that were “carry-on” friendly so she could look polished in a snap.
How did I fix this?
Most people who struggle with style don’t have the right foundation in their closet, and Laurie was no exception.
That’s why my trademarked Style System focuses on the building blocks. If you have pieces that you love, fit you, suit your lifestyle, and are versatile, you won’t run into a style slump.
With NLW’s Virtual Executive Image Consulting Experience, I ensured she had a rock-solid foundation not just in her wardrobe, but in every aspect of her appearance.
The Image Consulting package is perfect for anyone who needs a complete image makeover. It creates their personal brand and brings it to life from A to Z.
I worked with Laurie to update her clothing, hair, makeup, skincare routine, reading glasses, and signature scent. Everything needed to bring her personal brand to life.
Thanks to this curated approach, Laurie can now say this about her wardrobe:
“NLW found the proper fabrics and fit for my body…I’ve stopped thinking about those spots on my body that bother me. Instead, I feel like a boss.”
Aligning Your Style with Your Success
If you don’t feel like your style matches who you are today, you’re not alone.
Many people’s career beginnings look like long days and nights, tight budgets, and shifting appearances to the side to get the job done.
I get it. But something that can stand in the way of even more success is not dressing the part. When you get to certain professional levels- the details matter.
That brings me to our next style transformation (and one of my all-time favorites): Nate Dudek.
Nate was on the cusp of leaving his job and starting his own company. Because of that, he knew he needed to be his own brand, and style was a big part of that.
“…[In 2022] I decided to invest in myself in nearly all areas of my life. Part of that was being tired of wearing the same old boring clothes and not really feeling like my style matched who I was or my role as the CTO of a fintech.”
If you know anything about the Tech world, you know tech CEOs and tech bros have a certain (some might say infamous) sense of style. Nate didn’t want to continue that cookie-cutter mold. He wanted how he dressed to feel authentic to him.
So that’s what I did.
Like Laurie, he also chose the Virtual Executive Image Consulting Experience to get his dream executive image makeover. That way he could make the best first impression on new clients and partners from head to toe.
I helped Nate hone in on his personal style. We ditched the boring tech khakis and vests and found well-made, well-fitting pieces that felt modern and effortless. We even found items to show off his tattoos from time to time!
Now, Nate dresses for the person he is today: a successful, confident entrepreneur and leader.
“I love my updated wardrobe. I feel so much more comfortable and confident in my new outfits, and I can’t recommend working with her enough.”
How To Dress A Plus or Mid-Size Body
One of our greatest pride points at NLW is having a style system that works for everyone and every size. That means that whether you’re petite, tall, straight size, plus, or mid-size, we can help you learn how to dress yourself.
Even more than that, we can get you to love your closet.
That’s what NLW stylist Maggie did for Stella, a middle school teacher in New York.
As a teacher, it was important to Stella to feel and look polished and professional in ensembles that were still comfortable and practical for her job.
Unlike other clients who needed an executive makeover, she needed something more functional and polished.
But as someone who “reads” a bit young, Stella wasn’t sure how to do this without being mistaken for a student herself. She needed a way to look more mature to get the respect she deserves from her classes.
In short, Stella didn’t know where to start and she didn’t have the confidence to figure it out. So, she came to Next Level Wardrobe where Maggie steered her in the right direction.
She showed Stella how to shop for herself and how to let go of old, ill-fitting clothes that were taking up space in her closet and mind.
While shopping, Maggie prioritized fit. She researched brands that fit well on curvier body types and created business casual outfits for midsize women.
Now, Stella’s wardrobe is all things professional, stylish, and functional.
Stella mentioned: “Maggie was so helpful in editing my closet and helped me understand the NLW system. She was with me every step of the way and it helped me not feel overwhelmed. Ever since I changed my wardrobe, I have been getting so many compliments from friends and co-workers. Shout-out to NLW!”
Discovering Your Style For A New Decade
Entering a new decade in your life can be emotional. You have to reckon not just with your age but all the changes that come with it. Changes in your career, personal life, and of course, with your body.
For Corrie, that’s what turning 40 was for her.
She was a busy business owner, mom, and wife. She’d recently gained weight and was ready to accept this as her “new normal.”
However, her closet wasn’t there quite yet.
Unlike some who need a style makeover because they hate shopping, Corrie loved shopping and clothing.
In her own words, “I tend to buy clothing because a brand I like is having a sale or promotion. This results in me buying different pieces that I like but that don’t necessarily work together to form outfits. I want to shop with a purpose not as a reaction to an email.”
At NLW, we’re all about intentionality. Like Corrie discovered, impulse shopping is a surefire way to end up with that, “I have a closet full of clothes but nothing to wear” feeling.
We helped Corrie learn how to approach clothing and fashion with a plan. We cleaned out her closet of all the sale purchases that were taking up space. Then, we identified the gaps in her wardrobe.
With a clear plan, shopping became easy. We knew how to pick out high-quality, well-fitting items that she could grab quickly in the morning and still feel put-together and confident.
Doing this didn’t just make her days more convenient, it helped her find her identity again.
Instead of opening her closet and seeing a mess of different personalities that weren’t quite right, she could now open her wardrobe and see herself.
Corrie shared, “I had to take an emergency trip to Paris this past weekend because my mom landed herself in the hospital with a broken leg. Packing normally would’ve felt like one stress too many, but it was so easy thanks to my new wardrobe. I had so much extra space in my suitcase. I’ve been walking to and from the hospital (4 miles) every day in my new soludos.”
How To Stop Wasting Time, Money, and Energy
After outfits that Ashlee created
If you’re tired of wasting time, energy, and money on your wardrobe and shopping, we’ve got the answer for you.
And guess what? It’s not wearing the same thing every day or cutting corners.
It’s as simple as having the right pieces in your closet to begin with.
This is what Maggie and I taught NLW Client Ashlee during her image makeover. Before working with us, she was constantly frustrated with her closet.
She couldn’t find clothes that fit her body, she was still hanging on to clothes from her 20s, and shopping for fast fashion deals.
What our team showed her was the value of quality over quantity. We shared how ethical, well-made clothing brands might seem like more of an investment upfront, but save you in the long run. (Why? Because they last!)
We also showed her how she could have a versatile capsule wardrobe without feeling bored or overwhelmed. How? All through the power of our approach to color.
With the NLW Hierarchy of Color, our clients build a wardrobe base of core colors. Think black, white, grey, and navy blue. These colors go with everything, so they should be the largest portion of your closet.
Next, add in tonal colors. These are shades and textures of those original core colors.
Finally, the smallest (but no less important) third of your wardrobe is for accent colors.
With this system, we took the mess out of Ashlee’s routine while still making sure her style still felt fun. Paired with more subtle core pieces, those bold patterns and colors Ashlee loved now looked intentional and chic.
After working with us, Ashlee shared: “With NLW, you’re not just paying for a stylist to pick out your clothes, you’re investing in someone trustworthy to help you feel and look your best and to educate you on what to look for and how to wear it.”
Transform Your Style With Next Level Wardrobe
From career pivots to body changes to new life phases, Next Level Wardrobe is ready to makeover your style and your life. From executive image makeovers to virtual styling, we have your back.
We have over six years of experience working with professionals of all ages, backgrounds, and sizes. With each one, we create a tailored experience to help them showcase the best version of themselves.
Ready to take control of your style narrative? Apply for NLW’s women’s and men’s styling services today!
